The Irish standard., 1887-07-09
QUEENS WITHOUT A GROWN.
History Of Margaret Haughery at New
Orleans Sister Dora Of the Cottage
Hospital, Walsall, England.
BELOVED BY ALL THE PEOPLE.
The Monuments That Have Been Ereete
to Perpetuate the Names Of These
Noble, Charitable Sisters.

IN EW ORLEANS, .JulY r. JHCTOWIlGu.
not untitled, was Margaret Haughery,
a woman esteemed by the people Of
New Orleans to a degree that queens
might envy; indeed every one called
her by her given name, as is done in
speaking of queens. Her title was that
Of ''The Orphans Friend" She Was
not cultured nor gifted with what is
termed genius OF brilliancy. She was
nnlettered, and left no written records.
It was not her mission to write letters
and books, much less to preach or
teach. In what, then. was her great
ness and strength? !? It WAS in good works,
more impressive and heneficent than
pen can present OF in1part.
Margaret was born in Baltimore, of
Irish parentage, Gatfney by name. Left
an orphan at an early age. she grew to
womanhoOd as domestic in the house
hold of friendly farnily. Reaching
adult years she married Charles Haugh-
cry and removed to New Orleans This
was fifty years ago. Her husband soon
failed in health. and died while on 8
trip to Ireland. This bereavement was
soon followed by another one, her only
child, and Margaret was again alone
and homeless. She found employment
soon after as servant in the Julian
Poydras Orphan Asylum, at chat time
under the management of the Sisters of
Charity.
When the sisters opened another
home for friendless children, Margaret
accompanied them and took charge of
the dairy of the establishment. She
trundleda uiilk cart about the streets,
peddled from door to door through sun
shine and rain, at each door in her de-
liveries as regular as a clock. The pro-
fits Of the business went TO the suppor5
of the institution, and in 1865, when it
reached a. condition Of independence
and comfort largely through herefforts,
she engaged in business on her own ac-
count by opening q bakery on one OF
the principal streets. Attired as before
in coarse gray dress as plain as the
similar cOlOreG Shaker bonnet on her
head, she went through the city with
her bread wagon as she had done with
her milk cart. She was known in the
houses of the poor. and by the sick bed
she was Il saint in ali eyes and hearts.
The best people were her friends and
the stoutest heretics stood By her. She
was not fair of feature nor sprightly in
mapDer. Her face was inexpensive.
broaa and red, while her hands and feet
we're large and uncomey. It was not
for possessing exterior personal graces
that prompted the people Of her adopt
ed home to erect to her memory the
first and only statue to woman in the
United States, and really the first in the
world to one other than sovereign. 1t
was not physical charms, but for her
beauty of Christian character, shown in
daily deeds of charity; for her unre--
mitting zeal and energy for the cause
of the homeless and friendless. that she
is remembered among the women who
in their day have been
Those starry lights of virtne that diffnse
Through the dark depths of time their vital
Her life was one sweet strain of moral
humanity, a gospel preached to every
listening ear in tones and acts Of kind
ness and love, in a spirit of ever flow
ing benevolence, and in the silent
teachings of patience and faith under
difficulties and suffering. Her place is
among ''the noble army of martyrs"
for no doubt her sacrifices brought
burdens which weighed down the clos
ing years of her useful life.
One February day in 1882 Margaret
rested from her labors. On July 9, 1884.
the beautiful marble statue which
stands in front of the New Orleans Fe-
male Orphan Asylum, which she has
been largely instrumental in building,
was unveiled to public view. 1t repre-
sents her in her favorit,s garb, engaged
in caressing an orphan child. The
statue is found in the midst of a pic
turesque little park on Camp street. a
few blocks from Canal street, the great
thoroughfare of the Crescent City,
Long, long be my heart with such memories
fll'd
Like the vase in which roses have once been dis
tilld,
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you will.
But the scent of the will hang round itstill.
Two years later, October II, 1886, in
the town Of Walsall, Staffordshire.
a similar scene was enacted
in the city market place by the unveil-
ing Of testimonial in marble to an.
other uncrowned queen, Sister Dora,
whose work among the homes of the
poor and afflicted, and in the Cottage
hospital which she founded, endeared